An Overview of the Potential Usage of Bamboo Plants in Medical Field

Bamboo plants belong to the grasses family (Poaceae) and are one of the most important and valuable forest resources. This multipurpose plant contains a variety of different species. All different plant parts, such as roots, rhizomes, shoots, stems, leaves, and seeds, exhibit their own unique properties that can be used in biomedical applications. Bamboo plants have an important place in traditional Asian medicine, particularly in China and Japan. Since the 1960s, biomedical research on the toxicity and health benefits of various bamboo species and parts has been conducted worldwide. These studies have shown that bamboo has many health benefits and has been linked with the prevention of many diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Besides that, bamboo also has antioxidant activity, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, etc. Bamboos are known to have a diversity of constituents such as flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, and coumarins, as determinant compounds for their bioactivity. These biodegradable materials could substitute several typical, non-biodegradable materials with comparable characteristics and performance as biomaterials. Since bamboo plant constituents are part of the physiological function of living flora, they are more compatible with the human body. This chapter reviews the potential usage of bamboo plants in medical-related fields.